One of the eight Christian converts recently sentenced to a combined 45 years in prison for their involvement in house-churches has died in a road traffic accident.

Bijan Gholizadeh, who was a father to three daughters, was killed on Saturday, 24 August, while driving his truck on the Borujen Road south of Isfahan.

According to Iranian Christian website Mohabat News, Bijan was only recently released on bail after nearly six months’ detention, including 20 days in solitary confinement.

Bijan was one of at least 46 Christians arrested over the Christmas period.

He was arrested on Christmas Eve in the city of Izeh, in Khuzestan province.

On 27 May, Bijan was sentenced to five years in prison for “propaganda against the regime through the promotion of ‘Zionist’ Christianity” as a result of his membership of a house-church, which was labelled a “group that intends to disrupt national security”.

The sentence was pronounced by Judge Mehdi Fathinia of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court.

Seven other Christians were convicted as part of the same judgement, including Yasin Mousavi, who was sentenced to 15 years.

Also sentenced were Hamid Afzali to 10 years; Nasrullah Mousavi and Iman Salehi to five years; two unnamed individuals to two years; and Zahrab Shahbazi to nine months.

Another Christian convert, Esmaeil Narimanpour, was sentenced the following day to five years in prison for “acting against national security by communicating with Christian ‘Zionist’ organisations”.

Earlier this year, another Christian former prisoner of conscience, Ebrahim Firouzi, died of a reported heart attack at the age of 37. 

Article18’s director, Mansour Borji, commented: “We at Article18 are deeply saddened at the news of the sudden passing of Bijan, who tragically lost his life in an accident. His death is a profound loss that echoes the grief we felt earlier this year with the passing of Ebrahim Firouzi, another brave soul who had endured much for his beliefs. 

“Bijan’s courage and resilience in the face of persecution will be remembered by the Iranian Christian community. As we struggle to cope with this second heartbreaking blow, our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. We pray that Bijan’s legacy of faith and perseverance will continue to inspire many, even as we grieve his untimely departure.”